Missouri Schools Go Green
January 19, 2009 – 3:14 pm by Daniel JosephsThe Missouri State Board of Education formally approved the Missouri Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications for schools at a meeting conducted on January 15th 2009. Although I commend Missouri for its’ efforts in pushing through green school legislation, after reading their guidelines/specifications document, I am troubled by its’ voluntary approach.
On the one hand, the document is a comprehensive Green Cleaning guide, outlining everything from product certifications and best practices, to equipment and training. On the other hand, however, schools can volunteer to participate in this program, and Custodians can volunteer to purchase green cleaning product. But what about the students and teachers? According to the document, the students and teachers do not have options to choose from. How can Green Cleaning Guidelines for a school NOT include options for what students/teachers breathe in, learn in, teach in and live in for 6 hours of their day?
In my opinion, Green Cleaning legislation in schools shouldn’t be a guideline and shouldn’t set the tone as an opt-in program. What is so wrong with making Green Gleaning a mandatory must have? It benefits individuals (from the teachers, to the students to the custodians). It benefits the environment (from the classroom, to the bathroom to the playground). It ultimately benefits everyone and everything so why is it a voluntary practice?
I put my hands together in applause for Missouri’s Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications (Missouri is just the forth state to pass green cleaning legislation in schools).
But I raise my hand and ask, “Shouldn’t green cleaning legislation in schools be mandatory?”
Do you agree or disagree and why?